Thirty-four connected Goblin Villages dotted the Vast Stinking Swamplands.
Humans had little interest in coming here to hunt Goblins. A piece of Goblin Hide was worth only a few dozen Copper Coins, and both the terrain and the Goblins were a headache. It wasn't worth the trouble.
Goblins who ventured outside usually weren't so lucky. Mercenaries were always short of money, and if a few dozen Copper Coins were lying on the ground, why wouldn't they pick them up?
So the outside world still didn't know that the Goblins of the Stinking Swamplands had split into factions.
The next day, after getting to know this group of Goblins better, Annan confirmed they knew nothing. Their claim that "as long as we have the resources, we can make another one" had been a lie, too.
It made sense. How could a remote village possess lost Ancient Technology?
Still, they might have some Ancient Blueprints. Annan left the investigation to Dole and prepared to head home.
Annan's situation was different. The others could travel back and forth through the Portal whenever they wanted, but he could only leave his footprints on the map one slow step at a time. Most of his work in the south was done. It was time to go back.
But just as Annan was preparing to leave, Goblins from the other villages came to raid them.
The Musketeers fired a few shots into the sky. The echoing gunfire sent the surging Goblins fleeing. Then they started calling Village Chief Mark and Dole Goblin Traitors.
Dole, who was in charge of dealing with the Goblins of the Stinking Swamplands, ignored them. He spread the word: cooperation would earn them supplies, provided they didn't play games by "cooperating today, rebelling tomorrow, and cooperating again the day after." They could